Today, on 15 September 2015, the National Bank of Ukraine issues in circulation the commemorative coins “400 Years of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (silver and German silver), which are dedicated to one of the oldest higher educational establishments in Ukraine and Western Europe which was established in 1615 as Kyiv Brotherhood School.
Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Yakiv Smolii presented the coins. NaUKMA’s President Andriy Meleshevych took part in the event.
“Experts in numismatics often repeat the phrase “engraved into the history”. This is true! An event or a person that was honored to be commemorated on the coin is really engraved not only in the domestic but also in the world history, because the coin is a symbol of the state and a source of historical information," said Yakiv Smolii.
On the occasion of the anniversary the NBU Deputy Governor congratulated the students and teachers of the famous academy, among the graduates of which at various times there were Ukrainian hetmans, metropolitans, known writers and scholars. “A graduate of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy is even among the 6 members of the NBU Board,” mentioned Yakiv Smolii.
NaUKMA’s President Andriy Meleshevych, for his part, said, "Every day different people in Ukraine and abroad congratulate the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy on its 400-year anniversary. But you need to congratulate not only us, this is the holiday of the whole Ukraine. My colleagues and I are proud of belonging to the Mohyla community; we have an opportunity to contribute to its development. However, Mohylianka is the achievement of the whole Ukraine; it is a source of pride for every Ukrainian. The 400-year anniversary of the University that participated in developing and strengthening the state during all its history is a remarkable day in the life of the whole country.”
Yakiv Smolii told that in 1998, the National Bank initiated the commemorative coins series “Higher Educational Establishments of Ukraine”. Out of hundreds of higher educational establishments of Ukraine, only 17 of them were marked with issues of commemorative coins.
“Up to this day, solely the Ostroh Academy and my alma mater, the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, which celebrated the 350-year anniversary of its foundation in 2011, have been the oldest establishments engraved on our coins,” said Yakiv Smolii and added that from now on this honorable title passes to the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
For reference
During 2015 (as of 15 September 2015), the National Bank of Ukraine has issued 24 commemorative coins whose total mintage has come to 723 thousand pieces (6 silver coins, 1 bimetal coin and 17 coins made of non-precious metals). Moreover, 12 commemorative coins will be issued till the end of the year.
In general, on the average, the National Bank of Ukraine issues into circulation about 40 commemorative coins made of precious and non-precious metals in 31 series.
During the first eight months of the current year, about 647 thousand pieces of commemorative coins in the amount of UAH 48.8 million have been sold, which corresponds to the rates of their sales in the previous years (in 2014, 707.7 thousand pieces were sold in the amount of UAH 52.1 million).
In 2015, the NBU has increased the mintage of the German silver commemorative coins to more than 30 thousand pieces, which satisfies demand for coins in the market.
You can buy the commemorative coins at the NBU prices in all the NBU regional offices (except for the Main NBU Office in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and regional offices of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts) as well as from NBU distributors on commemorative coins sale (at present, they are as follows: “State Savings Bank of Ukraine” (Oschadbank) OJSC, Bank “Finance and Credit” PJSC, “Commercial Bank ‘Khreschatyk’” PJSC, and “OKCI BANK” PJSC).